These are some random journal entries that I found interesting and thought that they might provide some encouragement and/or occasion for reflective thought.
11/4/02
-The only way to a more intimate knowledge and understanding of God is through the renunciation of self and attatchment to Him. He is the only source from which true wisdom comes . If it is understood that He is the creator from which all things come, is it not common sense that the most direct way to this knowledge is through wanting to know Him personally?
-All things that are received by people are given by Him. Yet, He does not give all things to all people.
-Through a lofty vision or insight (by grace) into the nature of the Creator, one no longer sees created things as they are perceived through the physical senses but sees them in their relation to the Creator.
-If God is in your heart and your heart loves only what is pleasing to God, then act on what the heart is moved to and you will be in accordance with His will……One only reaches this point by rigorously and constantly practicing an examination of the heart’s desires to determine if they are self-serving or selfless.
11/5/02
-The one who has his trust in the Lord is never expecting and always accepting.
1/5/03
-The persons that experience the most joy in this life are the ones that contemplate the grandeur of the one to come.
2/1/03
-I desire what I do not need; and what I do need, I have no desire for.
-No one is rewarded the prize without running the race. No one can claim victory without fighting the battle. So train yourself in truth and arm yourself with faith. For those whose practice is deceit and weapons are those of pride will not realize their error untill the finish line is in view and the battle is nearly over.
3/3/04
-Humility does not consist of saying that you do not have understanding because you do not know God. But it consists of acknowledging that everything that you do understand is because of God.
-If that which you do not desire is good, that does not mean that the desire is bad.
8/21/04
-Man thinks that by doing what is best for himself he is doing God’s will. But he must understand that doing God’s will is what is best for himself, and God’s will is that he do what is best for others.
-The Lord said to me, “Do not concern yourself with knowing what it is that I’m doing, but rejoice in knowing that it is I who am doing it.”
8/26/04
-The man who does for himself should realize that he should do for God, and the man who does for God should realize that it is God who is doing it.
9/5/04
-It would seem that God chose to give man free-will for the simple reason that man, being given the understanding of that which cannot be seen and of himself, would willfully choose to give up his gift given to him to choose; and so choose to do that which has been chosen for him to do by the One that chose him to be.
11/2/04
-Each man should embrace what has been given to him, and praise God for what he has been given by using it to help others and to do good.
1/28/05
-God does not deceive, but provides discernment.
5/29/05
-Believing in the Truth (Christ) brings into existence that which it testifies to through action. But not believing the Truth (Christ) revealed through action does not therefore make it non-existent.
5/30/05
-In matters of decision making, the pure and good way is to choose decisively what is good in love without respect to reflection upon how one might choose so as to get what he wants.
7/26/06
-If there is one thing commendable about politicians, it is that at least they are not hypocritical; for they do not enforce the law.